Civic Center San Francisco

Top Attractions & Things to Do in This SF District

Civic Center San Francisco is in the heart of the city. Top things to do here include visiting the Asian Art Museum and City Hall. It's also home to many of our performing arts companies such as the ballet, opera, and symphony.

You can also catch a Broadway show at the Orpheum, see a performance at the Nourse Theatre, and catch a concert at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

Market Street borders it on the south. Turk Street is the northern border. It stretches out east to west between Leavenworth (eastern border) and Gough & Franklin.

For some of the links on this page, I receive a small commission when you purchase. You don't pay more when you buy through me and it gives me the chance to offer you all this great content for free!

10 Top Things to Do in the Civic Center San Francisco

The Civic Center San Francisco district is a bustling area with plenty to see and do. Here are some of my top picks.

1. Explore the Asian Art Museum

The SF Asian Art Museum is one of my favorite San Francisco museums. It houses more than 17,000 items in its permanent collection. Several of them are rare artifacts that you will not see anywhere else in the world. On the link below, you will find photos of the museum and what to expect when you visit.

2. Stop by City Hall

One of my favorite free SF attractions is City Hall. This gorgeous building is the heart of the Civic Center District. Since it's a public building, it's free to visit and take a look around. Highlights inside include the grand staircase, the gorgeous rotunda, and the South Light Room mini-museum.

3. See a Broadway Show at the Orpheum Theater

San Francisco has a number of theaters, but one of the most beautiful and well known is the Orpheum. This historic theater hosts some of the nation's largest Broadway productions, such as Hamilton, Wicked, and The Lion King.

Click through the link below to see a full schedule of San Francisco theater events at the Orpheum and other theaters throughout the city.

4. Listen to the World Class SF Symphony

This San Francisco neighborhood also provides many opportunities to experience high culture. One of the most popular options in this area is the San Francisco Symphony. This world-renowned group performs several times a week and often performs with international special guests.

5. Enjoy an SF Ballet Performance

The SF Ballet also performs in this neighborhood. It's one of the oldest ballet companies in the US and was the first to perform The Nutcracker in the Americas. Their interpretation of The Nutcracker is still one of their most popular performances every December.

6. Catch a Concert at the Bill Graham

Head over to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium for some of the biggest concerts in San Francisco. It attracts internationally recognized artists such as Zedd, Nghtmre, and Kaskade. They offer around four to five shows each month. Here are just a few of the upcoming concerts here.

7. Learn Its History on a Free Walking Tour

One of the best ways to learn more about these neighborhoods of San Francisco is by taking the Civic Center/City Hall walking tour. This is a free tour given by volunteers through the San Francisco Public Library. You can pick up the tour on the steps of the Main Library starting at 11am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The tour runs all year long and you don't need a reservation ahead of time.

8. See the SF Opera

The SF Opera also calls the Civic Center San Francisco home. They offer shows in June and July as well as September through December. They perform classics such as The Barber of Seville, Carmen, and The Marriage of Figaro. All shows are at the War Memorial Opera House

9. Catch a Show at the Herbst Theatre

The Herbst Theatre is another crown gem in the Civic Center San Francisco neighborhood. It's inside the War Memorial Veteran's Building and offers up to 200 shows a year. This beauty was originally opened in 1932 and seats just under 900 people.

10. Enjoy a Live Talk at the Nourse Theater

Another one of the top things to do in the Civic Center San Francisco is to see a show at the Nourse Theater. They are best known for their live lectures and talks that are on public radio. Previous guests include Annie Leibovitz, Misty Copeland, and Michael Eric Dyson.

How to Get to the Civic Center San Francisco

From Fisherman's Wharf

It will only take you about 30 minutes to get from Fisherman's Wharf to the Civic Center San Francisco. Here are your best options:

47 or 49 Bus: Pick up either of these buses on the western side of Fisherman's Wharf, both will drop you off at McAllister and Van Ness, across the street from City Hall.

San Francisco Taxis: This will decrease your travel time to around 15 minutes and will cost you about $15 to $20, depending on traffic.

From Union Square

Union Square is just a few blocks away. You can either walk down Market Street to Civic Center Plaza or take one of these transit options. All will take around 15 minutes.

F Street Car: This picks up at several stops along Market Street. It's $2.50 for a one-way ride.

Light Rail Muni Train: Pick up the train at the Powell Street Station and take it to either the Civic Center or Van Ness Station—both are just a few blocks away from the heart of the Civic Center San Francisco action. Almost all light rail trains head to both of these stops, including the J, K, M, and N trains.

Taxi: Taking a taxi from Union Square to Civic Center San Francisco is a quick way to get here. It should take you less than 10 minutes and cost around $10 to $15.

Hop On/Hop Off

Another way to get to this neighborhood is on the Hop On/Hop Off Tour Bus. This neighborhood is stop B13 and it drops you off at Civic Center Plaza. Learn more about taking the Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour.

Driving & Parking in Civic Center San Francisco

Driving to the Civic Center San Francisco is a popular option. However, parking can be a hassle. Here are just a few of the best parking options.

Civic Center San Francisco Garage: You will find an underground below the Civic Center Plaza. It's between City Hall and the Asian Art Museum and is just a couple of blocks from the performing arts venues nearby. You will find it at 355 McAllister Street.

Performing Arts Garage: Another great option is the Performing Arts Garage on the corner of Grove and Gough. The address is 360 Grove Street.

Impark: Another garage nearby is Impark in the Essex Fox Plaza. It's located at 1390 Market Street with the main entrance on Hayes. When you map it out, it will take you to the entrance on Hayes.